AN ABUSIVE man who violently attacked his partner and defecated on her drive, during a campaign of harassment after she kicked him out, has been jailed.

Jonathon Roberts grabbed the woman around the neck before hitting her to the ground and forcefully pinning her down with his foot, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 58-year-old flew into a rage and attacked the woman in their Darlington home when he accused his victim of making disparaging remarks about the way he spoke to his son on October 9 last year.

Joseph Hedworth, prosecuting, told the court Roberts had attacked her on several occasions during their 15-year relationship and also verbally tormented her by branding her ‘****ing mad, la-la, and loopy-loop’.

Describing the attack, Mr Hedworth said: “They were in the kitchen together and without any provocation whatsoever, the defendant used his hand or arm to press against her throat and she could not breathe.

“He then hit her and she ended up on the kitchen floor. The defendant pressed down on her chest with his foot and said she could not breathe.”

The Northern Echo: Jonathon RobertsJonathon Roberts

Mr Hedworth said the following morning the victim confronted the defendant with the bruising she suffered to her face and chest saying - ‘I hope you’re happy with your night’s work’ to which he replied - ‘you shouldn’t have said what you did’.

Following the attack, the victim stayed away from the Roberts but he continued to message her and started harassing her over a six-week period.

Mr Hedworth said Roberts attacked the front door with a spade and threatened to ‘smash her car in’.

As a result, Roberts was arrested but returned to his victim’s home and this time defecated on her drive and smeared faeces on her car number plate, he added.

Roberts, of Chesterfields, Stanhope Road South, Darlington, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another charge of harassment by stalking.

Kelleigh Lodge, in mitigation, said her client had been on remand since his final arrest in November and had provided him with his first taste of custody.

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced Roberts to a total of 14 months in prison for both offences.

She said: “You smeared faeces on her car and driveway, she texted you and said - ‘I can’t believe you s*** on my are’ and your response was ‘I was caught short’ – that has been your response in the pre-sentence report as opposed to ‘I’m extremely sorry for what I have done’.”

Roberts was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order.

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